Professional Learnings NSWPPA Educational Leadership

If leadership feels heavier than it used to, you’re not imagining it. We sit down with leadership and coaching specialist Annette Gray to get honest about what effective school leadership looks like in 2026, and why the leaders who thrive now are the ones who ask better questions, share power, and stay deeply human while the system keeps demanding more. We unpack the difference between trust-based...

What if the most powerful thing a school leader does every single day is something most people never even see? In this Season 4 episode, Drew Janetzki sits down with Angela Falkenberg  National President of the Australian Primary Principals Association  for a conversation about national advocacy, student anxiety, principal wellbeing, and the profound power of primary education to change lives. Ang...

What makes a great leader and where does that greatness actually come from? In this milestone episode, Drew Janetzki sits down with Judy Hatswell  teacher, registered psychologist, leadership consultant, and co-architect of the Art of Leadership program. For 14 years, Judy has stood in front of NSW primary school principals and helped them do the hardest work in leadership: understanding themselve...

In this insightful episode of Professional Learnings , host Drew introduces Season 4 with a powerful conversation featuring executive coach and leadership consultant, Annette Gray. Annette shares her profound insights on navigating leadership through crisis, fostering human-centred school cultures, and the critical importance of self-awareness for educational leaders. Drawing from her experience s...

From the moment children develop basic motor skills, they begin role-playing the futures they can imagine. But by upper primary school, these dreams often narrow dramatically - limited by postcodes, stereotypes, and what they see in their immediate environment. What if we could change this pattern? Liv Penny, co-founder and CEO of Become Education, is transforming how we prepare young people for t...

Khalil Khay. From classroom to executive to system advocate, Khalil’s story spans three decades of transformation in NSW public education. He’s currently Principal-in-Residence K–12 in the School Excellence Directorate, previously championed curriculum reform, steered the ConnectED conference for 17 years, and been named to the Educator Hot List in four of the last eight years running. As we close...

HALT Reimagined: How NSW Schools Are Recognising Excellence Through the HALT Talent Pipeline In this episode of Professional Learnings for Leaders in Education, host Drew Janetzki speaks with Krystal Bevin, Coordinator of the HALT Talent Pipeline at the NSW Department of Education. Together, they explore how the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) accreditation process has been completely...

In this episode of the NSWPPA Professional Learnings: Leading with Data series, host Drew Janetzki reconnects with psychologist and author Michael Hawton , Director of Parentshop , to explore the evolution of The Anxiety Project . Together they unpack how this whole-school initiative—now reaching more than 113 schools and 47,000 students —is transforming the way teachers, parents and children unde...

A single year to turn around a struggling school. A principal willing to listen, let go, and lead with courage. That’s the spark behind Muriel Summers’ journey at A.B. Combs Elementary: The birthplace of a movement that made student leadership the heartbeat of school culture and the Seven Habits a living language for kids, teachers, and families. We sit down with Muriel to unpack how a community-d...

What if we reimagined education from the ground up? Dr Jason McGrath, recently returned from the OECD in Paris, takes us on a fascinating journey through global education systems that are planning decades ahead while others remain trapped in short-term thinking. The conversation delves into how countries like Wales, Malta, and Finland are transforming education through long-term visioning—creating...

The Clarity Learning Suite team introduces their newest initiative, the Clarity Essential Suite, designed to distill powerful professional learning into 12 flexible hours to support school improvement across New South Wales. • Three core components: explicit leading, explicit teaching, and explicit learning • Designed for 55-minute sessions, aligning with NSW Department of Education guidelines • C...

What does true educational leadership look like when equity remains at its heart for over 40 years? Lila Malarczyk OAM offers a masterclass in purposeful leadership that transforms lives and systems. Growing up in western Sydney from a low socioeconomic background, Lila experienced firsthand how education could open doors—and how prejudice could try to close them. A defining moment came when, as a...

Anxiety levels among students are skyrocketing, dramatically affecting their ability to tackle challenges and participate fully in school life.  Project Lead Rob Walker (Evans River K-12 School) and Trish Peters (Kincumber PS) member of the project leadership team join us to share remarkable findings from The Anxiety Project, a groundbreaking initiative now implemented in 129 schools across Austra...

Navigating school sports policy doesn't have to be overwhelming. The final episode of our four-part series with the NSW Department of Education School Sports Unit reveals the practical solutions and expert guidance available to school leaders across the state. Meet Lucette King, a Sport Policy Advisor with an impressive 30-year tenure in the School Sports Unit. Her extensive experience has po...

The connection between physical activity and brain development isn't just anecdotal—it's backed by compelling scientific research that should revolutionize how we think about sport in schools. When students exercise, their brains produce more BDNF enzyme, which supports memory formation, reduces anxiety, and significantly enhances learning capacity. One study showed students who particip...

Physical activity isn't just about fitness—it's a powerful tool for learning, inclusion, and creating positive school environments. This compelling episode takes listeners behind the scenes with the NSW Department of Education Sports Unit, revealing innovative approaches that benefit every student. Anthony Moyes opens with a passionate explanation of how the Sports Unit supports students...

The vital connection between educational leadership and physical activity takes center stage in this compelling conversation with the NSW Department of Education's School Sports Unit. As school leaders navigate competing priorities, understanding the wealth of support available through structured sporting pathways becomes essential for student wellbeing and academic success. Andrew Hooper, wh...

What happens when you gather a group of educators in a room and call them a "team"? Usually, not much. Despite our best intentions, many school leadership teams waste countless hours in meetings without achieving their potential impact - because simply assigning people to work together doesn't make them a team. Rob Stones, with over 35 years of educational leadership experience incl...

Ever feel like your day is a constant battle to stay ahead of emails, messages, and urgent tasks? You're definitely not alone. In this candid conversation with Robby Stuart , National Learning and Development Manager at Priority Management Australia, we uncover powerful strategies that can transform how educational leaders manage their time, technology, and teams. Robby reveals the game-chang...

What happens when schools go beyond academic instruction to develop the whole child as a leader?  In this podcast, Sean Covey, New York Times bestselling author and President of Franklin Covey Education, reveals the remarkable transformation occurring in thousands of schools worldwide through the Leader in Me program. The journey began unexpectedly when an elementary school principal on the verge...